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Real Brides Share Their Biggest Piece of Wedding-Day Advice

Here’s some great wedding-day advice from bride experiences by Elizabeth Mitchell of brides.com.

You’ve read all the bridal books there are to read, signed up for every wedding tip of the day, and downloaded an embarrassing amount of planning apps. But you can always use more big-day advice before you walk down the aisle — right? We asked nine real brides who’ve already been there done that to shell out their best advice for your wedding. So from one bride to another, listen up.

Take pictures before you say, “I do”

“You’ll have more time to spend with your guests at the reception if you take your photos first. Even if you want to stick to not seeing your groom before you walk down the aisle, you can still get all of the other photos out of the way.” — Jasmine, 24

Get your food to go

“Ask your caterer to pack away food for you (the cocktail hour food, the main course, the cake … everything) because likely you’ll have absolutely no time to eat any of it. And trust me: You’ll be starving when you get back to the hotel at the end of the night.” — Rebecca, 26

Don’t sweat the small stuff

“Breathe, enjoy the planning process and ultimately, enjoy your day and being with all your loved ones. If something goes wrong, you’re surrounded by people who are willing to help and support you. In the end, no one is going to remember how much effort you put into those paper flowers that now have crinkled edges anyway. Trust me, I made hundreds!” — Ashley, 23

Be a woman with a plan

“Before the wedding, designate someone to take home all your gifts and mementos (like your guest book and card box) after the reception and to close out any final vendor payments. If you’re changing out of your gown before going to the hotel, you’ll need someone to take it home too. You can delegate these responsibilities to a bridesmaid, family member, or day-of-planner.” — Janice, 27

Tell your wedding party exactly what to do

“Create a very detailed itinerary of the wedding weekend for your wedding party and anyone else involved. It will help everyone understand where they need to be when and what is expected of them.” — Kelley, 29

Remember to soak in the moment

“Really look around at everyone in attendance and think about how much they mean to you. It will probably be the only time all those people are in the same room. Take in how much you love your significant other and how amazing you feel at that very moment. Married life has its challenges, and you’ll need to draw on that feeling from time to time. Whether you’re worried about buying a home or starting a family, that feeling can get you through everything!” — Brittany, 28

Eat something

“The ounces you may think you are saving by not eating on your wedding day can be costly. A low blood sugar can make you feel sick, irritable, and tired. Eat regular (maybe even a little more), and put your most reliable bridesmaid or mom in charge of ensuring you do so.” — Laurel, 34

Spend the night with your new hubby

“Focus on the person you are about to marry, not everyone in attendance. I spent the morning with my mom, the day with my bridesmaids, and I totally forgot to spend time with my husband during the reception. Looking back, I wish my memories were of spending time with him — not trying to keep the party going.” — Ally, 23

Speak up during the toast

“You, as the couple, should address your guests during the toast time. Both my husband and I said a little something, and our guests told us how much it meant to them because at so many weddings you only hear from the best man and the maid of honor.” — Denise, 37

What Clients Say

After having a bad experience with another tent company, I was pleased that Sperry was able to step in and give me a beautiful tent that made my wedding day. This was by far the easiest part of my wedding to plan. The staff was a pleasure... professional, reasonable, quick and easy to work with. The tents are breathtaking; the sailcloth against the beautiful wood is a great background for pictures. I will definitely work with Sperry again!

I have used Sperry Tents many times over the years because their tents are stunning. Most recently used them for my wedding. Not only is the tent always perfect, the folks at Seacoast Sperry are incredibly helpful and accommodating (and always on time.)
Thanks Sperry!

We used Sperry Tents for our August wedding and it was just beautiful! The detail that goes into the inside and outside of the tent is unparalleled. Picca was wonderful to work with and the tent gave a finished looked to our event that would have been missing without it.

Sperry Tents Seacoast is such a pleasure to work with- their team is super professional and knowledgeable! Quick, thoughtful, and genuine responses to every question asked. The tent was perfect in every aspect- I love hearing friends and family STILL comment on how beautiful it was!

If you are using a tent for your wedding (or any other event) you have to go with Sperry, that's all there is to it! They did such an amazing job, we can't say enough about this company. The tents are gorgeous inside and out, the customer service is unparalleled and we were absolutely thrilled with everything they did for us. The only complaint we have is that they took the tent down and didn't leave it for us forever. We love Sperry and could go on and on. You will NOT be disappointed!

Please express out thanks to all the folks at Sperry Tent that helped plan and setup the tent for our daughter's wedding at the Nonantum Resort on Saturday, June 2, 2018. The weather which looked threatening earlier in the week turned out to be beautiful and the tented wedding reception was just outstanding thanks to the cobined efforst of Spery Tent and the Nonantum. Both were great people to schedule an event with. Everyone attending enjoed themselves and the spectacular river views at the outside tented venue.

Thank you again for making the wedding such a wonderful evening event.

Sperry Tents Seacoast provided the tents for my daughter' wedding. The tent was spectacular! Liz and the office crew walked me though the whole planning process. Ben and Jason did a great job installing the tent. What nice young gentlemen...... Kudos!

Please express our thanks to all the folks at Sperry Tent that helped plan and set up the tent for our daughter's wedding at the Nonantum Resort on Saturday, June 2, 2018. The weather which looked threatening earlier in the week turn out to be beautiful and the tented wedding reception was just outstanding thanks to the combined efforts of Sperry Tent and the Nonantum. Both were great people to schedule an event with. Everyone attending enjoyed themselves and the spectacular river views at the outside tented venue.

Thank you again for making the wedding such a wonderful evening event.

Sperry Tents is amazing in every way. The tent was truly stunning and the crew could not have been nicer. And most incredibly - they brought the tent and crew all the way to Texas (from New Hampshire) for our wedding! It was awesome to watch them put the tent together, and what they built was unlike anything our guests had ever seen. It set the tone for the entire event - casual elegance. If you are having a tent at your wedding this is the ONLY one to have. No more plastic structures with drapery inside that looks like a gaudy coffin! This is simple, classic and gorgeous! Thank you Sperry :)

As a premier wedding venue, we look for the most exceptional quality and service out of the vendors that we use and recommend. Michael and his team deliver just that. Working with Michael is like being around family, he not only makes you feel important but he also delivers the most outstanding service I have ever seen. The team always deliver on time and provides the most seamless set-up and break-down, which is important for being an active hotel. Not only do they provide beautiful tents but everyone's professionalism and attention to detail makes working with Sperry Tents Seacoast a true pleasure.

The tent was beautiful in the daylight...the Sperry provided uplighting only enhanced the appearance inside and out when darkness fell. Everything was perfect and executed seamlessly in coordination with the venue.

I was thrilled with my experience with Sperry Tents Seacoast! I always felt comfortable and well taken care off. They are true professionals that made the process so much easier than I had anticipated when my daughter suggested a wedding at our house.

And the tent was more than we could have had hoped for. It was so remarkable, my daughter was over the moon when she saw it set up.

Sperry is a wonderful company to work with. They are by far the best in the area in terms of professionalism and quality! Love the sailcloth and stained wood. Additionally, they worked directly with my other vendors saving me time and a headache!

“Last summer, I attended a friend’s wedding for which Sperry created the most magical venue a bride could ever imagine. Every detail of both tents—from the raised floor to the sparkling lights to the magnificent seating to the crisp pennants perched at the tops of the tents waving in the wind —was perfect. Truly majestic and probably the most beautiful wedding I will ever attend.”